Join in on a free information session and learn more about what Small Press Distribution (SPD) can do to help your press make a larger impact in the United States.
We've invited SPD Executive Director Kent Watson and Publicity and Marketing Manager Grant Kerber to give LPG members a run-down of SPD programs and services, as well as exciting changes that they're making to their organization.
In this session, you'll learn:
- who SPD is and what they do
- what may have changed since you were last in touch, and what's coming up
- how SPD is helping Canadian literary presses succeed in the US marketplace
At the end of the session, there will be time for you to ask questions of Kent and Grant.
About our presenters:
Kent Watson became the SPD Executive Director in June of 2022. Kent is a book industry professional with experience in nonprofit leadership and management, recruitment of new members, high-level negotiations, advertising sales and sponsorships, branding and marketing, financial management, independent publishers’ bookselling, buying, book distribution / wholesaling, small-to medium-sized press publishing, textbook and magazine publishing, acquisitions, and academic teaching. Kent is the Chair of the Lake Oswego Library board and a former Adjunct Professor at Portland State University creating and teaching "The Business of Book Publishing." Kent’s role within the SPD organization is to oversee all activities, including development, advocacy, day-to-day operations, personnel, strategic planning, financial operations, fulfillment activities, website management, data programs, inventory, and to be in contact with publishers with technical advice, new opportunities, and financial information.
Grant Kerber, Publicity and Marketing Manager, joined SPD in March 2021. Grant is a graphic designer, marketing specialist, community organizer, and poet. He is one of the co-founders of Oakland Summer School, a community education project SPD has supported and collaborated with. He is editor of Jet-Tone Press, an SPD publisher. Grant also works on issues surrounding food justice, the homeless crisis, and criminal justice reform. Grant’s role is to supervise the publicity and marketing team; handle and delegate all traditional, digital, and social media marketing campaigns; develop and implement community programs and public events; advise our client publishers about their marketing strategies; foster relationships between writers, readers, and other organizations within the small press community; and maintain good relationships with SPD publishers and bookstores by processing book data, taking orders, and amplifying their news and publicity to SPD’s large audience. In his role at SPD, Grant also leads the organization's acquisitions team, communicating with prospective publishers and welcoming accepted publishers to SPD.
